Former Australian tennis champion and commentator Jelena Dokic has issued a heartfelt plea to women regarding their health, following her own recent surgery to remove a large uterine fibroid.
A Personal Health Journey
The 42-year-old, who once held the world No.4 ranking, confirmed she underwent a successful operation this week to remove the non-cancerous growth. Dokic described the procedure as having "all went well," but noted she was recovering from four abdominal incisions.
"A bit sore from the four cuts on my stomach and abdomen but all normal and in recovery now," Dokic shared. "I will be taking it slow for a bit but will be back up on my feet very soon."
A Call to Action for Women's Health
The experience has propelled Dokic into a vocal advocacy role, particularly for women under the age of 50. She highlighted a concerning lack of awareness about the high rates of fibroid diagnoses in this demographic.
"Some women it will not affect at all and some will have a lot of pain and bleeding depending on where it is and how big it is," she explained, underscoring the variable nature of the condition.
Her central message was one of proactive care and self-advocacy. Dokic strongly urged women to seek regular gynaecological check-ups and necessary scans, even if initially told they are unnecessary.
"Please get your scans, regular gynaecological check-ups and if anything ever feels off or painful please don’t dismiss it and go to your doctor," she said.
"Also, always advocate for your health no matter what because these and other women’s reproductive issues can sometimes be dismissed. Get different opinions, get the scans and ultrasounds for your own safety, health, prevention and treatment even if you are told that you ‘don’t need to’."
An Outpouring of Support and Gratitude
Dokic's candid post attracted hundreds of supportive messages from the public and fellow high-profile Australians. Well-wishers included Olympic swimming gold medallist Libby Trickett and Channel 7 cricket presenter Erin Holland.
She also took time to express profound gratitude to the medical team at Frances Perry House within Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital.
"To the team of doctors, nurses, anaesthetist and everyone that looked after me, THANK YOU," Dokic wrote. "The most incredible care pre and post operation and most importantly all done with so much kindness, care and with a smile on their faces."
She praised the staff as "legends that don’t get enough credit and spotlight and absolutely should," and also thanked her inner circle for their support with calls, messages, and flowers during her recovery.
